Dept of Health & Human Services

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The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued a report concerning the use of telehealth to render behavioral health services to Medicaid enrollees, calling for greater evaluation and oversight in the hopes of encouraging states to implement changes to improve how their Medicaid programs use telehealth for behavioral health services, including mental health assessments, individual therapy, and medication management.
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Continue Reading HHS OIG Studies State Medicaid Programs’ Use of Telehealth

On March 4, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced several measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”).  Described by CMS Administrator Seema Verma as representing “a call to action across the health care system,” these actions serve to ensure health care facilities have updated information to be able to effectively respond to COVID-19 and thereby protect patients and residents.
Continue Reading CMS Announces Actions to Address the Threat of Coronavirus

This past May, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in the healthcare system. While Section 1557 has been in effect since 2010, the final rule extends additional protections to transgender individuals seeking transition-related health services, which can include gender reassignment surgery. The rule went into effect July 18th, although provisions affecting health insurance plan benefit design will become effective January 2017.
Continue Reading HHS Final Rule Extends Anti-Discrimination Protection to Transgender Patients